Comments on: Putting Some Bite in U.S. Energy Policy http://ajcwire.org/2007/08/28/putting-some-bite-in-us-energy-policy/ blog of the American Jewish Committee. Articles on Jewish life, current events, and Israel. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 08:41:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: anonymous ponderer http://ajcwire.org/2007/08/28/putting-some-bite-in-us-energy-policy/#comment-1933 anonymous ponderer Wed, 17 Oct 2007 17:42:58 +0000 http://ajcblog.org/2007/08/28/putting-some-bite-in-us-energy-policy/#comment-1933 Interesting that, by the author's points here, the US administration has talked the "less oil" talk about 30 years ago and only now is it going somewhere serious in Congress, and in society. Perhaps global political realities brought this idea to its time? The writer states that 70% of US oil is spent on transportation but the embedded piece in the factiod is that a great bulk of that trasportation, and this oil, is soely for our food industry. Also, isn't it the case that even if energy sources are re-directted so that fuels comes from ethanol/from corn that we'll still be guzzling oil to produce more and more of those corn crops?? I wondered why even major oil companies are so giddy in their ads about turning to the use of ethanol, and this seems to explain why. Interesting that, by the author’s points here, the US administration has talked the “less oil” talk about 30 years ago and only now is it going somewhere serious in Congress, and in society. Perhaps global political realities brought this idea to its time?

The writer states that 70% of US oil is spent on transportation but the embedded piece in the factiod is that a great bulk of that trasportation, and this oil, is soely for our food industry.

Also, isn’t it the case that even if energy sources are re-directted so that fuels comes from ethanol/from corn that we’ll still be guzzling oil to produce more and more of those corn crops??

I wondered why even major oil companies are so giddy in their ads about turning to the use of ethanol, and this seems to explain why.

]]> By: ed turner http://ajcwire.org/2007/08/28/putting-some-bite-in-us-energy-policy/#comment-1932 ed turner Thu, 30 Aug 2007 14:22:28 +0000 http://ajcblog.org/2007/08/28/putting-some-bite-in-us-energy-policy/#comment-1932 heard you story energy independance today 8-30=07 use less energy in my car, would love to.i had honda station wagon backx in the early 80's i got over 40 mpg now i have samller hatchback honda and that gets 30 mpg. i've noticced almost all the cars get 30 or less than that now a day, why? congress states only so much mpg in cars, so i wonder if the car mfg buy oil stock and make money on us. i read story of canada that mfg a large car with a diesel that get high 40's mpg, will it be available in usa, NO! why? how can i get one of those cars and use it in the state of ri where i live? i think about buying a honda fit car at end of season, but find that they will lnot be discounted because they are economical and get fair mpg(in my opinion) and they do not stay on the dealers floors. they do not make enough of they to satisfy the need for them. i feel i am cought between a rock and a hard place, and miles while we are all getting screwed, except people with the oil stock. what can we do? heard you story energy independance today 8-30=07
use less energy in my car, would love to.i had honda station wagon backx in the early 80’s i got over 40 mpg
now i have samller hatchback honda and that gets 30 mpg.
i’ve noticced almost all the cars get 30 or less than that now a day, why?
congress states only so much mpg in cars, so i wonder if the car mfg buy oil stock and make money on us.
i read story of canada that mfg a large car with a diesel that get high 40’s mpg, will it be available in usa, NO!
why? how can i get one of those cars and use it in the state of ri where i live?
i think about buying a honda fit car at end of season, but find that they will lnot be discounted because they are economical and get fair mpg(in my opinion) and they do not stay on the dealers floors. they do not make enough of they to satisfy the need for them.
i feel i am cought between a rock and a hard place, and miles while we are all getting screwed, except people
with the oil stock.
what can we do?

]]> By: David Cooper http://ajcwire.org/2007/08/28/putting-some-bite-in-us-energy-policy/#comment-1931 David Cooper Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:42:28 +0000 http://ajcblog.org/2007/08/28/putting-some-bite-in-us-energy-policy/#comment-1931 The Oil Lobby seems to be countering the push to alternative fuels with some unsubstatiated figure that corn ethanol will raise food prices by 10%, and hurt the poor all over the world. I remember a economics professor saying the major problem for hunger in the world was the transportation of getting the raw food stuffs to the market, that there was plenty of production, and that the US government was paying farmers not to grow corn. Repeat, farmers are still getting subsidies not to grow grains that can turn into ethanol. The US farmer has the ability and desire to harvest all the crops the market needs, as long as there is potential profit. What subsadies are farmers still getting not to plant grains, and why? David Cooper AJC-LA Green Task Force The Oil Lobby seems to be countering the push to alternative fuels with some unsubstatiated figure that corn ethanol will raise food prices by 10%, and hurt the poor all over the world.

I remember a economics professor saying the major problem for hunger in the world was the transportation of getting the raw food stuffs to the market, that there was plenty of production, and that the US government was paying farmers not to grow corn. Repeat, farmers are still getting subsidies not to grow grains that can turn into ethanol.

The US farmer has the ability and desire to harvest all the crops the market needs, as long as there is potential profit. What subsadies are farmers still getting not to plant grains, and why?

David Cooper
AJC-LA Green Task Force

]]> By: Rony Goldstein http://ajcwire.org/2007/08/28/putting-some-bite-in-us-energy-policy/#comment-1930 Rony Goldstein Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:18:39 +0000 http://ajcblog.org/2007/08/28/putting-some-bite-in-us-energy-policy/#comment-1930 “A nation that has reached the moon and cracked the atom can undoubtedly produce safe, efficient vehicles.” I strongly believe that the required MANHATTAN PROJECT effort (as coined by David Harris) to achieve reduction and or substitute our Energy Fossil Culture will be carried out by entrepreneurs with access to both public and private funds, much like the INTERNET start ups of the 90s and well beyond. There are many alternative initiatives going around. Some have HIGH barriers of entry due to costs, regulations and time to develop in the short term and some with manageable barriers. The latter includes existing proven technology and accessibility. Under this scenario, the opportunity is there, but so are the hurdles that the entrepreneurs face, which would require attention by the policy makers: 1. Rising cost and availability of feedstock. Feedstock as a commodity is subject to the volatility of the markets. Ethanol has become the darling of many headlines since Bush's recent trip to Brazil and President Lula’s visit to Camp David. This has contributed to the steep rise in corn, sugar cane, palm oil, soybean to name a few, forcing entrepreneurs to think again whether to jump into the lake. From the point of view of the small investor, we would be replacing Dependence on Foreign Sources with Dependence on Big Domestic Business that controls and trades these commodities. Without new and fresh tax incentives to the small investor, the development of this industry is destined for marginal growth 2. Existing and future legislation driven by the traditional agricultural lobby. Current and New legislation is being driven by the BIG agricultural concerns (i.e. corn, soybean). The risk here is that not all of the alternative feedstock other than those under their control might benefit from equal tax incentives and grants. . Moreover, tax incentives should include the development of non-traditional feedstock that excludes the food chain debate brought about by the recent price hike in these commodities. BIG capital groups will always find loopholes to have access to tax incentives. A Special Agency should be created to oversee and fix the “holes” 3. Availability and Accessibility of Capital. We read and listen to speeches made by all in elected office of the now household word ENERGY INITIATIVE and the Federal Commitment, a catchy word but far removed for the entrepreneur. From local COALITION CITIES FOR CLEAN ENERGY to local State Agencies to under financed foundations and to local financial institutions, there is a gap between what is said and done. Most of the grants and rightly so are geared to education, research. Grants allocated to entrepreneurial development are minimal. On the other hand, you have the Big Conglomerates that command the Capital Markets. The entrepreneurs are left not only with the task of procuring for the project but to sort out the access to these funds, and at times resorting to EXPENSIVE MONEY from the venture capitalists and hard lenders. I strongly believe that capital flows according to the risk/reward curve but if we really want to develop this industry, these issues and many more must be raised in the public debate. “A nation that has reached the moon and cracked the atom can undoubtedly produce safe, efficient vehicles.”
I strongly believe that the required MANHATTAN PROJECT effort (as coined by David Harris) to achieve reduction and or substitute our Energy Fossil Culture will be carried out by entrepreneurs with access to both public and private funds, much like the INTERNET start ups of the 90s and well beyond. There are many alternative initiatives going around. Some have HIGH barriers of entry due to costs, regulations and time to develop in the short term and some with manageable barriers. The latter includes existing proven technology and accessibility. Under this scenario, the opportunity is there, but so are the hurdles that the entrepreneurs face, which would require attention by the policy makers:
1. Rising cost and availability of feedstock.
Feedstock as a commodity is subject to the volatility of the markets. Ethanol has become the darling of many headlines since Bush’s recent trip to Brazil and President Lula’s visit to Camp David. This has contributed to the steep rise in corn, sugar cane, palm oil, soybean to name a few, forcing entrepreneurs to think again whether to jump into the lake. From the point of view of the small investor, we would be replacing Dependence on Foreign Sources with Dependence on Big Domestic Business that controls and trades these commodities. Without new and fresh tax incentives to the small investor, the development of this industry is destined for marginal growth
2. Existing and future legislation driven by the traditional agricultural lobby.
Current and New legislation is being driven by the BIG agricultural concerns (i.e. corn, soybean). The risk here is that not all of the alternative feedstock other than those under their control might benefit from equal tax incentives and grants. . Moreover, tax incentives should include the development of non-traditional feedstock that excludes the food chain debate brought about by the recent price hike in these commodities. BIG capital groups will always find loopholes to have access to tax incentives. A Special Agency should be created to oversee and fix the “holes”
3. Availability and Accessibility of Capital.
We read and listen to speeches made by all in elected office of the now household word ENERGY INITIATIVE and the Federal Commitment, a catchy word but far removed for the entrepreneur. From local COALITION CITIES FOR CLEAN ENERGY to local State Agencies to under financed foundations and to local financial institutions, there is a gap between what is said and done. Most of the grants and rightly so are geared to education, research. Grants allocated to entrepreneurial development are minimal. On the other hand, you have the Big Conglomerates that command the Capital Markets. The entrepreneurs are left not only with the task of procuring for the project but to sort out the access to these funds, and at times resorting to EXPENSIVE MONEY from the venture capitalists and hard lenders.

I strongly believe that capital flows according to the risk/reward curve but if we really want to develop this industry, these issues and many more must be raised in the public debate.

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